Greetings, brethren.

The month of May is here, and Spring is in full bloom. It’s my favorite season for a lot of reasons, the beautiful flowers, the mild temperatures, but mostly, it’s the fragrances. Lilacs blooming, their sweet smell on the breeze. Falling asleep at night to the scent of Jasmine flowers right outside the bedroom window. And my wife’s favorite, viburnum, sweet and spicy in all its splendor.

Quote of the month:

“Spring is far more than a changing of the seasons; it is a rebirth of the spirit.” – Toni Sorenson

Congratulations to Brother Doug Brown for obtaining his 3^rd degree proficiency. Well done! And a special thank you to Worshipful Nick Bertell for being his coach.

I would like to thank all the brothers that attended the district school of instruction on April 25^th. The brethren’s ritual is coming along nicely and I’m proud of the commitment you all have shown. A special thank you to Sandy Lambo for the absolutely excellent meatball sandwiches.

Upcoming events:

Thursday, May 2^nd – Stated meeting at 7pm.

Thursday, May 9^th – The all-important 1^st degree for Mr. Sheyenne Cimaron Stillinger at 6:30pm. Brothers, I want as many masons on the sidelines as possible for this degree. Let’s give Mr. Stillinger a 1^st degree he’ll always remember!

Saturday, May 11^th – Coffee with the Master at 9am. We have some things to discuss regarding the upcoming cornerstone events in September. Right after coffee, there is a Masonic Blood donation at the Northern California Community Blood Bank, approximately 11am.

Thursday, May 16^th – 3^rd degree rehearsal.

Thursday, May 23^th – 3^rd degree rehearsal.

Saturday, May 25^th – There are two events. First at 8am, we are meeting up at Oceanview cemetery to put flags on the graves of our veterans. Flags will be collected on Monday, May 27^th starting at 3pm. All masons and their families are welcome to attend.

The second event, later that evening at 6pm, we are having a masonic barbecue at Six Rivers Lodge No. 106. This is a no cost event that will feature fellowship, food, whisky, and cigars. All masons are welcome.

Thursday, May 30^th – 3^rd degree rehearsal.

A very busy month indeed. I’m looking forward to it.

And now, I’d like to introduce you to Brother Peter Castellano.

Born in Oklahoma, Pete moved to Florida at age 7. He then moved to Humboldt in 1999 to attend college.

Pete is a direct support professional for Humboldt Community Access and Resource Center (HCAR) and works at The Studio, helping people with disabilities. Over time, he worked himself up the ranks and now manages the program.

Pete has a lot of interests and hobbies. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, going to the beach, kayaking, fishing, photography, collecting marbles, rock hunting and rock tumbling.

Caitlan is Pete’s wife of 7 years. And they have two fur babies, Ved the dog and Davey the cat.

When I asked Pete what he most enjoys about free masonry he said that the fraternity gives him the opportunity to a have a larger effect on the world than just by himself. “It’s a better framework for improving myself. Making me a better person. And let’s not forget helping Santa get tuned up for Christmas as his masonic elf!

Respectfully,

Dan Sarver
Master
Humboldt Lodge No. 79

Hello Sister and Brothers!

I hope you are happy and well as we are enjoying our springtime of year!

We are looking forward to several events coming up and celebrating with some of our members. Our May stated meeting will be our Past Matrons & Patrons night. We are looking forward to honoring those that have served the chapter in this capacity. We are also looking forward to enjoying a delicious meal from Ferndale Chapter. As usual, dinner is at 6:30 and state meeting at 7:30.

On May 17th, our own Worthy Patron, Jeff White, will be installed at Illustrious Grand Master for Grand Council of Cryptic Masons in California. Several of us will be attending Grand Session in Burbank to support Jeff and his Lady Lisa. So proud of them and that they are part of our Chapter! We are looking forward to a busy term with them and wish them all the best.

On May 26th at 1PM will be a Reception for our Sister Sally Hansen, celebrating her office of Grand First Messenger for California Job’s Daughters Grand Council. It has been fun to watch her travels and hear her stories from visitations across the state. Please join us at Humboldt Lodge on that Sunday!

The Chapter is excited to get started on providing some community donations. If you have any suggestions for a donation to a worthy non-profit organization or youth groups, please let us know. We like to know what is important to our membership.

Thank you to our Job’s Daughter Bethel for making Goodie Plates purchased by the chapter for our local officers, 50 year members and 80 year-old members. We hope you enjoyed them!

We are looking forward to getting our Strategic Planning group going to review and renew our Strategic Plan and Goals. Please let me know if you would like to be a part of this, even you can’t attend our meetings, we would still like to hear from you. We are also looking forward to hosting a Game night and some other fun activities, so keep your eyes open to more information.

I wish you all a beautiful May, and Happy Mother’s Day to all our lovely Mothers.

With Star Love and Hugs, Heidi Quintrell, WM

Brethren,

Greetings from the Oriental Chair. Our Lodge had several special events over the last month, starting  with a Crab Feed on March 24th. We had a good turnout with 125 pounds of crab being consumed. Pictures of some attendees: 

The Jacobs Clan. 

Milt and Bill enjoy the crabs.

Our donations to help the community.

Humboldt Girls Fast Pitch Softball – The” Rain”. $500′

Upcoming events for May and June. On Saturday, May 25th at 9 AM we will be placing Masonic flags at Greenwood Cemetery for Memorial Day remembrance. That evening at 6PM we will be hosting Humboldt 79 for a BBQ on our back lot. We will be sharing food, fires, cigars and Scotch. There should be a lot of Fellowship as the night progresses. May 28 at 9AM we will return to Greenwood Cemetery to collect our flags;  all are welcome.

On Saturday, June 15th, we will be at the Humboldt Trap and Skeet Club for our annual intra District Trap Competition starting at 10 AM. Fortuna is the reigning Champions. June 18th will bring up our annual Six Rivers Festive Board which will start at 6 PM at the Lodge. This year it is Beef Stew and vino toasting. 

We are planning on an Outdoor Third Degree on Bro. Charley Johnson sometime near the end of July at Wor.  Steve Jacobs  Fieldbrook Estate. Also, we cannot forget the SOI on June 8th at 10 AM up in Crescent City, where we will cover the First Degree. 

Before I forget, much Fun was had at the Elk’s Lodge “cook your own steak” on April 19th, 19 of us were in attendance.

Hope to see you all, sometime down the road.

George Durfee, WM

ROHNERVILLE-REDWOOD CHAPTER No. 76 – May 2024

The April meeting brought out some very interesting spring hats, including a shower cap. Of course, part of the fun was seeing Tom and Lee in their hats. The theme for the May meeting is Western, so come in your favorite western outfit. As always, the meeting will start at 7:30 with refreshments being served following the meeting.

The Masonic dinner in May falls on the first day of the month. If you would like to help prepare and/or serve the dinner please let Karen (707 725-3532) or Christie (707 496-8171) know.

Eel River Empire Lodge has bought a block of tickets for the Ferndale Repertory Theatre production of ‘The Prom’. The tickets are for the evening of June 1 at 7:30. If you are interested in attending, please reserve your ticket with Karen or Rich Sweet. Tickets are $14.

Bethel No. 86 (Job’s Daughters International) is selling cookie plates to earn money to attend Grand Bethel. The plates are $10 each and can be picked up or delivered May 5. Contact Heidi Quintrel (707 443-7305) to purchase one of these special cookie plates.

May

       1 – Masonic Dinner (6:30)

       9 – Regular Stated Meeting (7:30) – Theme ‘Western’

June

       1 – Ferndale Rep. Theatre, ‘The Prom” – 7:30

      13 – Regular Stated Meeting – Memorial Night – 7:30

Lee (Leroy) Astorino and Tom Howe in the Spring Bonnets.

Farewell April, Hello May!

Welcome to the new format of the Northcoast Masonic Trestleboard!  While most members will now access the Trestleboard electronically, we want to be sure those who need a printed copy are not left out.  To that end, if you know of a Ferndale Eastern Star member who needs a printed copy, Sister Patti Cady wants to know (707.845.6943).  She is our volunteer who will print and mail the Trestleboard monthly to Ferndale Chapter members who don’t have online access. 

April sunshine was glorious the morning of our hugely successful Aebleskiver Breakfast and we are in high spirits as we spring forward into May.  Before closing out April, though, do mark the 28^th on your calendar.  Brothers of Ferndale Lodge 193 cordially invite Chapter members to a Sweetheart Tea on April 28^th, two o’clock in the afternoon at Ferndale Lodge Hall.  Your presence is greatly appreciated at this annual social event. 

On the calendar for May:

May 2^nd:  Ferndale Chapter members are cooking and serving Arcata Chapter’s pre-meeting dinner.

May 4^th – 11^th:  March of the Penguins bus trip.    

May 8^th – Ferndale’s stated meeting.  A Mexican potluck is planned for 6:30; Sister Janessa and her Grandpa will preside in my absence. Festive, casual attire is perfect.  Theme: “Honoring Mothers and Important Women in our Lives”.  Anticipate short-form opening.  Reminder:  May is the final month of our generous donor’s offer to match funds placed in the coin basket designated for Eastern Star’s Outreach Services Program – the Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron’s internal project for 2024.  These funds are specifically designated to provide assistance to members in need who are not residents of the Senior Living Community. 

Wishing our May Birthday celebrants many blessings in their next year around the sun.  Sisters Linda Morin, May 2^nd; Barbara Kennedy, May 9^th; Sandra Buchanan May 16^th; and JoLynn McCorkle, May 21^st.

May the Lord watch over me and thee while we are absent one from the other!  

With Penguin Love and Husky hugs,

Nancy Bay, WM and Kirby Bay, WP

Hello Sisters and Brothers, and our Humboldt Masonic Family! 

March was a month of rest as we enjoyed our busy, but successful, month of February.  We had a wonderful Official Visit from Our Deputy Grand Matron, Sister Lisa McCombs, at our March Stated Meeting.  Sister Anne provided a yummy corned beef and cabbage dinner, thank you!!   

Our thanks to the guys at Humboldt Lodge for taking on the new format of the Trestleboard!  Please be patient and kind as we transition.  If you have any questions or comments, please let me know by our chapter email, arcata207oes@gmail.com, and I will get back to you.  If you are not receiving emails from us, please let me know so I can ensure that we have your correct email address.  If you need a printed-out copy, please let me know and I can arrange to have that mailed. 

April brings a welcome to springtime, a time of renewal of spirit and energy.  My hope for everyone is happiness, health, friendship and love.  Please try and reach out to someone who is struggling with these and offer them warmth from all our hearts. 

April 4^th is our Stated Meeting.  It will be long form and business casual.  Springtime theme, pastels and flowers.  The following stated meeting will be on May 4^th, where we will enjoy a dinner catered by Ferndale Chapter.  All our stated meeting dinners start at 6:30, we hope to see everyone then!

With many hugs, Heidi Quintrell, WM

Hello Sisters and Brothers, and our Humboldt Masonic Family! 

March was a month of rest as we enjoyed our busy, but successful, month of February.  We had a wonderful Official Visit from Our Deputy Grand Matron, Sister Lisa McCombs, at our March Stated Meeting.  Sister Anne provided a yummy corned beef and cabbage dinner, thank you!!   

Our thanks to the guys at Humboldt Lodge for taking on the new format of the Trestleboard!  Please be patient and kind as we transition.  If you have any questions or comments, please let me know by our chapter email, arcata207oes@gmail.com, and I will get back to you.  If you are not receiving emails from us, please let me know so I can ensure that we have your correct email address.  If you need a printed-out copy, please let me know and I can arrange to have that mailed. 

April brings a welcome to springtime, a time of renewal of spirit and energy.  My hope for everyone is happiness, health, friendship and love.  Please try and reach out to someone who is struggling with these and offer them warmth from all our hearts. 

April 4^th is our Stated Meeting.  It will be long form and business casual.  Springtime theme, pastels and flowers.  The following stated meeting will be on May 4^th, where we will enjoy a dinner catered by Ferndale Chapter.  All our stated meeting dinners start at 6:30, we hope to see everyone then!

With many hugs,

Heidi Quintrell, WM

See details below…

Hello, Everyone!

Our Deputy’s Official Visit in March went well, with help from several visiting Sisters and Brothers!  Many thanks to those who filled in and assisted our Chapter!

At our March meeting, Brother Lee challenged all members to pay into the Coin March for three meetings (March, April, and May) on behalf of Star Care, and he will match whatever is donated into those three Coin Marches! So let’s take him up on that very generous offer and donate as much as we can for him to match!

Brother Lee has been making some treats for us each of the last two meetings, trying out new recipes in anticipation of having a District-wide tea fundraiser for Paws for Purple Hearts.  The Worthy Matrons and Lee will be making plans for this event soon, and I will let you know when we have more information. 

At each of our meetings, Lee and I have “We are So Glad You Came” gifts to give away to two attendees.  These gifts are because we truly are so glad you come to the meetings (those of you who can).  Whether a member of Camellia Star or a visitor from another Chapter, we are very glad to see you at our meetings, and we want you to know that! Those who received our “We are So Glad You Came” gifts in March were Sister Jean Thomson and Sister Laird Crandall!

Our next meeting is April 3, and will be a “Titanic Remembrance” night.  No special ceremonies or exemplifications are planned, but we will do long form.  Please come in semi-formal dress.  Pretend you are going to board the Titanic and set sail on a wonderful adventure!  (We won’t emphasize how that voyage ended; we’ll just enjoy the initial part of the journey.)  Refreshments will be at 7:00, and the meeting at 7:30. 

Looking ahead, in May, both our Worthy Matron and our Worthy Patron will be MIA (enjoying Scotland and Prague/Provance respectively), so planning the May 1 meeting will be in Sister Peggy’s hands. She can do what she likes, from long-form formal to casual ante room meeting/game night or anything in between!  I’m sure she will come up with something fun and interesting!

Either right before we leave or as soon as we get back from our respective adventures, we will contact the Humboldt County Library to see how our Chapter can participate in the Summer Reading Program again.  We have had a fun time in years past creating prizes buckets for the children who participate, and we look forward to doing it again!

The June 5 meeting will be a tribute to Star Points, and the theme will be “Shining Bright as a Star!” It will also be Memorial, so ladies please to dress in white for the evening, and men in black suits. 

The Worthy Matrons and Patrons of District 1 are planning a tea fundraiser which will include a silent auction.  (We already have a donation for that silent auction, thanks to Barbara Kennedy of Ferndale Chapter — thank you, Barbara!)  The date is not yet set because we are hoping to have Terri Ewing of General Grand come speak on Paws for Purple Hearts! We need to get her availability before we nail down a date.  More to come!

Then July 3 will be “Hats Off to American Heroes!” and Friendship Night. Those who wish to say who they see as an American Hero may share.  The heroes may be alive or dead, contemporary or historical.  It would be a great night for wearing red, white, and blue!

Our August 7 meeting will be an ante room meeting and board game night.  Bring a board game you enjoy (that doesn’t take too long to play and would be easy to learn).  Dress casual, and be ready to have a great time socializing with your Sisters and Brothers.

September 4 we will pay tribute to teachers and gather school supplies to donate to local schools.

An event we definitely need to plan soon is presenting a 50-year certificate to our newest 50-year member.  More information to come about that too!

Best Spring Wishes to one and all!

Joni L. Hewston, WM
Lee Astorino, WP
Camellia Star Chapter No. 63